Sculpture in the Gardens
26 November 1997 - 5 April 1998
The Christchurch Botanic Gardens is again the setting for contemporary sculpture by
leading New Zealand artists in the third Sculpture in the Gardens show. Held every second
summer, this major outdoor event is a collaboration between the Botanic Gardens and the
Robert McDougall Art Gallery, and was initiated to illustrate the rich diversity of
contemporary sculptural practice in this country.
In delicious contrast to the earthly stability of 1995's stone theme, the inspirations
for this year's event are wind and water, and involve kinetic, or moving, elements.
Participating artists are Randall Watson, Evan Webb and Sam Mahon, and (technical
logistics permitting) a work by an internationally renowned artist, the late Len Lye.
Randall Watson, who has established a wide reputation for dynamic and witty interactive
sculpture, makes his presence felt with Target, a revolving red metal cross, fittingly
positioned on the Archery Lawn. A graduate from the Christchurch Polytechnic's Art and
Design School, Watson has described his method in 'working with invisibles' like wind and
gravity as 'a dance'
Regret, a spidery tower by local sculptor and painter Sam Mahon, is intended to reflect
the 'messy reality' of human life. Over ten metres high and made from steel rod of various
thicknesses, the sculpture will rise up out of the small pond on the Archery Lawn. As well
as a wind-turned bird on the top of the structure and revolving masks halfway down, there
will also be a partially submerged figure reclining in the water. Materials for Mahon's
project were generously supplied by Fenwick Reinforcing Ltd.
Evan Webb's work consists of two separate metal elements, each three metres high which,
activated by the wind, begin 'calling to each other'. Installed on the Pine Mound site,
this sculpture links nature and the machine, referring to the practice of naming cars
(such as the ubiquitous Falcon) after birds. In addition to his own sculptural practice,
Webb is also the Executive Officer for the Len Len Foundation and has been instrumental in
the completion of numerous Lye sculpture projects. No celebration of the best in New
Zealand kinetic sculpture would be complete without a work by Christchurch born
film-maker, sculptor, painter, genetic theorist and experimental prose writer Len Lye
(1901-1980). A very special feature of the 1997 Sculpture in the Gardens will be the
inclusion of a huge steel work, Large Blade, which was built by the Len Lye Foundation
this year after Lye's design. This work had only ever existed before in sketches and
models and it is solely due to the generosity of the New Zealand collector who recently
commissioned its construction that its first ever public appearance will be held here in
Christchurch.
Due to the technical difficulties involved in realising such a project, Large
Blade may be installed a few weeks after the official opening
of Sculpture in the Gardens. Part of Lye's Bounding Steel series,
Large Blade consists of a large rotating titanium shaft which
is repeatedly hit by a ball, creating an erratic and beautiful
display of sound and shimmering vibration. It will perform once
a day at 12.30 pm, operate for approximately 10 minutes and at
its maximum velocity Large Blade will create the visual pattern
of a double helix. Lye described the planned effect as 'a violent,
vibrant, rotating affair', intended to reflect the light 'like
an Aztec monument to the sun'
This exhibition was held in the Botanic Gardens.
View catalogue online
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